Spoilers Star Trek: Starfleet Academy 1x03 – “Vitus Reflux”

[BigJake]

I was pleasantly surprised. A fun (and funny) low-stakes School Hijinks episode with some character development for our main cast members -- especially Darem and Genesis -- and a welcome look at a playful side of Nahla Ake (who is luxuriating in letting those bare footsies out to play in this one, my goodness).

There's a touch of Hogwarts and Gryffindor vs. Slytherin about it, too, but hey, that's something I was fully expecting from this show, and it's not a bad thing to be riffing on in itself. (Those movies were a good form of absurd fun too before the author lost her proverbial shit.) The Slytherin -- sorry, I mean War College -- kids make enjoyable antagonists, especially the Vulcan-Romulan besties.

There were going to be School Hijinks in this series, it was inevitable. If they stay this entertaining, though, it will be a welcome part of the menu. 8/10.

 

[Sim]

Aren't "insecure nerd kids" overrepresented in science fiction?

We do have SAM and, I guess, Jay-Den.

BTW, does anyone else think that the reason his baritone sounds forced is because the character is doing that, rather than that the actor is struggling with it?

The kidets are written as high school students for the most part, adolescents rather than young adults.

I guess I might find the show more interesting when it starts focusing on Sam and Jay-Den more... hopefully.

 

[Charles Phipps]

I am a bit unusure as to why the replicator needs to be prepared sufficiently in advance, even if it doesn't have the recipe that doesn't seem to take long to do at all.

I mean I assume that entering the recipe and altering it is a thing that takes time if it's not just going with your present favorites.

Mind you, a big deal is the Burn has caused technological regression so we can't rely on the assumption things work the way they used to.

 

[Fateor]

Mind you, a big deal is the Burn has caused technological regression so we can't rely on the assumption things work the way they used to.

Never actually been said on screen.

 

[Starflight]

I'm completely fine with the script ignoring the established facts about replicators if it means a situation can be constructed where Thok is upset that her dinner is literally unable to exist.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I'm completely fine with the script ignoring the established facts about replicators if it means a situation can be constructed where Thok is upset that her dinner is literally unable to exist.

Yes, It creates a relatable moment for the audience.

 

[Tuskin38]

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[Greg Cox]

Yes, It creates a relatable moment for the audience.

Exactly. You don't want things (and people) to get so "evolved" and "futuristic" and "utopian" that we can't relate to the characters.

So, Kirk drinks coffee and eats chicken sandwichs and gripes when McCoy tells him to eat more salads, etc. And people occasionally swear and squabble and lose their tempers, and college kids are sometimes immature and make bad decisions . . . .

It's funny. Some years back, I wrote a YA fantasy novel about a runaway princess. At one point, my editor complained that the heroine was being reckless and impulsive and not always doing the smart, sensible thing.

I was like: "She's a teenager."

 

[cooleddie74]

I remember when Daniels in "Shockwave, Part II(ENT)" tells Archer that in the 31st century every school child has a quantum discriminator in their desk, but we never see such a fantastic device nor do we hear truly unfathomable details about the 31st century that would make 900 years after Enterprise sound too alien.

We hear about statues, memorials, libraries and books. Because all those are relatable, even if they're futuristic versions of those things.

 

[TRON JA307020]

I mean I assume that entering the recipe and altering it is a thing that takes time if it's not just going with your present favorites.

Mind you, a big deal is the Burn has caused technological regression so we can't rely on the assumption things work the way they used to.

The burn just affected dilithium. That wouldn't affect replicator technology. Unless they decide to say all technology runs on dilithium. Which it doesn't.

 

[Mudd]

I guess I might find the show more interesting when it starts focusing on Sam and Jay-Den more... hopefully.

Jay-Den, yeah. SAM's getting more than her share of exposure.

I like Genesis the best of this crew, so far.

 

[Mudd]

I remember when Daniels in "Shockwave, Part II(ENT)" tells Archer that in the 31st century every school child has a quantum discriminator in their desk...

Yeah, but it's only good for Pornhub.

 

[Charles Phipps]

The burn just affected dilithium. That wouldn't affect replicator technology. Unless they decide to say all technology runs on dilithium. Which it doesn't.

I think that is thinking the only thing affected was space travel when I think it triggered a Fallout-esque universe as a whole.

The galaxy went from Star Trek: TNG to Borderlands.

Which is to say everyone might be using analog technology and the replicators aren't nearly as good as they used to be.

 

[cooleddie74]

Yeah, but it's only good for Pornhub.

That reminds me. Gotta renew my subscription.

 

[Tuskin38]

I completely missed they showed a turboshaft in this episode.

And it's not a cavern.

 

[cooleddie74]

Thank the Maker.

 

[Detached Nacelle]

I remember when Daniels in "Shockwave, Part II(ENT)" tells Archer that in the 31st century every school child has a quantum discriminator in their desk, but we never see such a fantastic device nor do we hear truly unfathomable details about the 31st century that would make 900 years after Enterprise sound too alien.

We hear about statues, memorials, libraries and books. Because all those are relatable, even if they're futuristic versions of those things.

Probably illegal technology now. If all temporal technology is outlawed that probably includes time messaging technology as well as travelling.

 

[Romulan_spy]

Trekyards mentioned a possible plot hole. The phasers used in calica are said to only be capable of beaming the target to the penalty box. But, when Genesis shoots the replicators, it creates smoke. First, why would shooting replicators create smoke? Second, shouldn't the phasers had beamed the replicators to the penalty box since that is the only thing they are designed to do?

 

[Tuskin38]

saw it pointed out on TrekCulture, that Ake has a painting in her quarters that Pelia also has in SNW.

'The Concert' by Johannes Vermeer

 

[Sim]

Jay-Den, yeah. SAM's getting more than her share of exposure.

I like Genesis the best of this crew, so far.

Agreed. SAM comes across a bit annoying to me. Smarter writers could do something meaningful with her (before DS9 aired, I had no idea Ferengis could be interesting!), but I'm not sure the writers of current Trek have what it takes to do that.

But I'm hopeful Jay-Den and Genesis will become interesting.